In pretty much the majority of the western world, buses all have automatic transmissions. This allows the drivers to think less about working the bus and ideally, more on the job of stopping and not missing anyone at a bus stop.
I have yet to see a Korean bus driver ‘soil’s a stop the buses are only _just_ coming out as automatics. This means drivers have to know manual transmissions.
Now, being a car enthusiast, I prefer them as they allow me to ‘become one with the machine’. There is a certain awareness that one can achieve when they have to be more conscious about what choices to make while driving. I would say that people who can drive manual transmission cars are generally better drivers. Generally.
When people do not take the extra effort to continuosly improve the efficiency at which they can shift gears, it become a sad state of affairs and one that is usually suffered by the passengers. This was my experience tonight on a bus.
The driver slammed through the gears, practically popped the clutch every time and pumped the brakes when stopping. There was absolutely zero smoothness or grace to this idiot driver. I was actually starting to feel a little sick because of this fool.
Korea seriously needs that ‘how’s my driving? 1-800-….’ stickers.